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Man vs. Nature - Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore

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November 27, 2013

Marina Bay Sands hotel… This name might sound familiar to all you
architecture buffs (like my husband). It is one of the first and
possibly only buildings to engineer a rooftop pool that spans the length
of three separate buildings. It was a marvel to behold… nothing like
swimming at the edge of an infinity pool that sits 80 stories high in
the air!! As we arrived my feelings were mixed…. leaving behind the
simplistic, natural, peaceful sanctuary of Bali and heading full blast
into the one of the fastest growing financial epic centers of the world;
staying at the quintessential “cherry on top of it all” hotel. As
amazing as it was; I found it difficult to relate with my former self.
All I could see was this ostentatious mega structure squeezed in the
center of what seemed to be a game of “dog chasing it’s tail”. Where
is the beginning? Where is the end? What is the point of it all? My veil
had been lifted and I could no longer see the trees from the forest—or
the skyscrapers from the city. Sitting next to us was another building
in the shape of a lotus flower, seeming to add to the mockery of it all.

After spending a month, literally in the middle of rice fields on a
small island in the South Pacific with full Wi-Fi connection—Skyping,
face-timing and chatting with friends, family and business partners
across the planet; I was really beginning to question everything. Why
must we gather in these seemingly archaic, overcrowded, dirty areas we
call cities? Like bugs to a lantern, we are drawn in—hypnotized and
lulled into a coma like sleep by the chaotic energy. With such a large
beautiful planet with so much open spacious land out there to be loved
and enjoyed; are cities really that necessary anymore? Or could this be
a form of Stockholm Syndrome—where we have fallen in love with our
captor-the all mighty all powerful, romanticized city? It was the
age-old rivalry playing out in front of me; man vs. nature. And it was
becoming very clear whose team I was on.

I felt like mother nature was as conflicted as I was. The drastic
change in the atmosphere had an effect on us all—needless to say, there
was a lot of thunder and lightning both outside and inside our room.
After a few days we all started to settle in. Of course it didn’t help
that this “high-life” came with a lot of extra costs!! The price for
one lunch in Singapore was the same price for 6 meals in Bali. And one
nights’ average room stay was the equivalent of one weeks stay in Bali
that included a private villa and pool. We quickly renamed
Singapore—“Singarich”.

We ended our experience on a spiritual note—We visited a shopping
area where they mixed spirituality with shopping—it was great!! We got
blessed by a monk, got our auras read and bought some jewelry all at the
same place. We learned that Jason has the power to save the world—if he
applies himself. Ella, is magically connected to the greater universe.
Ariana is the great artist and socializer for our family and I am the
shiny, happy light that guides us. : )

Cultural note: before arriving each location we usually do “cultural”
and local “etiquette” research. This was by far the most interesting
yet… Chewing gum was against the law! In fact even being in possession
of gum was against the law. Plus you could be imprisoned for littering
or any sort of pubic misconduct. Singapore was one of the strictest
but also one of the cleanest cities I have ever been too. Coincidence? I
think not… ; )